If there’s one thing dog people love to do, it’s talk about dogs. We tell anyone who will listen about the cute thing Sophie did yesterday. We seek advice about Scruffy’s fleas or how to stop Bailey’s barking. We share information on dog sitters and vets. Often, close friendships are forged as people talk “dog” with other canine lovers.
Sometimes, informal social contacts become more formalized and a dog group is born. The Bay Area is home to dozens of dog-inspired organizations, and joining one (or more) is a great way for you and your dog to socialize and strategize with others of like kind.
Park-Based Groups
Some groups, like Duboce DOG and Dolores Park DOG, are rooted in specific parks. Members organize clean-ups and potluck parties with other park regulars. If conflicts in the park arise, the dog group can help resolve them. If you have to deal with city officials regarding your dog, belonging to a group can give you more clout. So if your neighborhood park doesn’t have an official dog group, consider starting one.
Some park-based groups remain loose associations of friends, while others develop into legal entities, with by-laws and elected officers. Take, for example, D5DOG.
A decade ago, most people who lived near San Francisco’s Alamo Square never went into the park because of the drug dealing and other crimes that took place there. Today, the park is a safe, vibrant community gathering place, thanks in large part to the many dog owners who moved into the neighborhood and began to regularly exercise their dogs in the park.
Alamo Square dog owners formed D5DOG (“D5” stands for supervisorial District 5), which has become one of the most sophisticated park-based dog groups in the City. Members successfully petitioned the Recreation and Park Department to create an official off-leash area in the park, then raised thousands of dollars to install a dog-and-people water fountain there.
The group works with the local neighborhood association on park issues. It has sponsored dog training classes and hosted “Great Dogs in the Park” festivals, featuring dozens of booths from local vendors. Still, at its core, D5DOG remains a group of people who regularly meet at their local park, commingling their canines and talking dog.
Breed-Specific Groups
Other dog groups are breed-specific. There’s nothing like watching dozens of French bulldogs cavort at Dolores Park during Frenchie Fridays, or tons of pugs chase each other through Alta Plaza on Pug Sunday. Attendees at the monthly Chihuahua Cha Cha Cha obviously relish roughhousing with other dogs their size.
In various locales throughout the Bay Area, devotees of just about every breed — including Great Danes, Golden Retrievers, Yorkshire Terriers, and Greyhounds — hold regular “meetups.” Why not join the club? Talking to folks at these events is a great way to learn more about your canine companion’s breed, and it’s just plain fun to watch homogeneous dog packs frolic together.
Sports Groups
There are dog groups for nearly every canine sport, from agility and flyball to dock diving and Frisbee. Most of them offer demonstrations, training, and competitions.
If you have an active dog, try the different sports and see which one clicks for both of you. Even if your dog is a couch potato, no worries. Dog sports are great for spectators, both human and canine. It’s a blast to watch other dogs jump, soar, weave, and race in events sponsored by these groups.
Advocacy / Education Groups
Some dog groups are devoted to improving the lives of dogs and dog people through education and advocacy. SFDOG, for example, holds workshops on dog behavior and dog safety, and advocates for increased off-leash opportunities for responsible dog guardians. DogPAC interviews and endorses political candidates, and lobbies officials to make San Francisco more dog-friendly. Berkeley’s Open Paw and Friends of SF Animal Care and Control are dedicated to improving the quality of life for dogs in shelters. Rescue groups save dogs that would otherwise be euthanized. [See a partial list of local rescue groups on page 17. – Ed.]
In the Bay Area, there are dog groups to suit every need and interest (see sidebar). Some distribute information and advice, some help keep parks clean, and others work to improve the lives of dogs and dog guardians. Many do all of the above.
Dog groups also provide regular socialization and recreation opportunities for your canine family member, who will enjoy belonging as much as you do.
If you haven’t joined at least one dog group, you don’t know what you’re missing.
Sally Stephens, the proud guardian of a fetch-obsessed Border Collie, is Chair of the San Francisco Dog Owners Group. SFDOG’s website contains links to Bay Area dog groups, information about dog parks and off-leash recreation, and much more.
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